bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 3m 57.00s

Altior⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 175| CD

2/11

Unbeaten in eight starts over fences including this race 12 months ago. Impressive winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last time out and likely to prove hard to beat once more.

Form: 1111-11

Ar Mad⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 156| CD

16/1

Grade 1 winner here as a novice in December 2015 but struggled in open company and pulled up behind Altior at Cheltenham last month. Likely to be playing a minor role.

Form: 11/4-P3P

Diego Du Charmil^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157| D

10/1

Useful novice and registered his first victory in Grade 1 company when winning a novice event over this trip at Aintree (soft) a fortnight ago. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: 0-132F1

God's Own⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 158| D

11/1

Successful four times over fences most recently in a Grade 1 at Punchestown (2m, good-to-yielding) in April 2016. Beaten 18L by Altior at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last time and more needed here.

Form: 553-633

San Benedeto^p,t⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| D

33/1

Placed in a Grade 2 handicap at Exeter (soft) over an extended 2m1f in November but had his limitations exposed in Grade 1 company the last twice and he looks up against it once more.

Form: 3-22454

Special Tiara⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158| CD

12/1

Winner of this race in 2015 and also took the 2017 renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Well beaten second behind Altior in this contest last year and disappointing so far this season.

Form: 12-3F3P

Forecasts

Altior (2/11), Diego Du Charmil (10/1), God's Own (11/1), Special Tiara (12/1), Ar Mad (16/1), San Benedeto (33/1)

ALTIOR can repeat his victory in this race 12 months ago and in the process maintain his unbeaten record over fences. Nicky Henderson's charge gave his followers a few moments worry at Cheltenham last time out but ultimately ran out a comfortable winner and he can see off God's Own who finished third on that occasional and has placed over C&D in the past. Special Tiara, the winner of this race three years ago can take third this time.